“Waiting Together”
Acts 2:1-12
We find a glowing picture of the spiritual intimacy of the New Testament church in the second chapter of the book of Acts. Living on the edge of the crucifixion and the resurrection, they were now living in concert with the instructions from the risen Christ. The command was to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father. There was no turning back for them, instead, they were moving into a new future they could hardly imagine. For the Holy Spirit was coming upon them.
It was the designated time for a historic harvest celebration. It was the day of Pentecost. It is a religious festival deeply rooted in the history of God’s dealing with the people of the covenant for their spiritual enhancement. This enhancement was different from anything that had happened before in the biblical history of God’s work of salvation. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.”
What a marvelous unity was displayed in this gracious act of God! They were all together in one place. This served as a miraculous act. It became a place of unity, a time of reminiscing, and a season of hoping for a renewed faith walk in a divine adventure that would change the world. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” The early church community changed, each disciple who received the Holy Spirit changed, and we can give witness that the world has changed due to this empowering exhibition of the power of God’s Spirit. May the Spirit of God move upon us today.
Pastor Dumas A. Harshaw, Jr.